Students take control of county government, for one day

Citizen Staff Reports

03/13/12

Henrico County Circuit Court Judge L.A. Harris, Jr. (right) administers the oath of office Wednesday, Feb. 29 at Hermitage High School to students who acted as members of the Henrico Board of Supervisors for the 2012 Student Government Day. The students are (standing left to right) Avery Jones of Highland Springs High School, representing the Varina District; Dominique Robinson of Freeman High School, representing the Tuckahoe District; Breonna Green of Henrico High School, representing the Fairfield District; Namrata Thawrani of Deep Run High School, representing the Three Chopt District; and Sam Belvin of Hermitage High School, representing the Brookland District.

Dozens of high school students from Henrico County got a firsthand look at the county’s general government and public schools administrations earlier this month when they shadowed elected and appointed officials for the 55th annual Student Government Day.

Student Government Day, held March 1, matched 93 students from nine high schools with such leaders as members of the Board of Supervisors and School Board, county manager, superintendent of schools, department directors and judges. The students, most of whom are seniors, spent the day learning the responsibilities of various departments and gaining insight into how local government works with and on behalf of the public in a democracy.

“It is the very best government on the face of the Earth,” County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett told the students. “It does work because of the people we elect. We may not always agree, but it does work.”

Student Government Day started Wednesday at Hermitage High School with a ceremony in which many of the students took the oath for their respective positions. All of the students reported to work early Thursday and spent the day asking questions and interacting with various officials. Students also had opportunities to tour the county jail and register to vote.

For students who worked at the Henrico Government Center on East Parham Road, the day culminated with a student-run meeting of the board of supervisors, which included rigorous questioning and debate over such issues as regulations on the discharge of air-powered guns, a contract for renovation and expansion of Fire Station 13 and a stream restoration project near Skipwith Elementary School.

Student Government Day is sponsored by the Kiwanis clubs of North Richmond, Tuckahoe and Greater Richmond.

St. Joseph's Villa’s Flagler Housing & Homeless Services was one of three entities to earn the National Alliance to End Homelessness' Champion of Change Award. The awards were presented Nov. 17 during a ceremony at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

Flagler completed its transition from an on-campus shelter to the community-based model of rapid rehousing in 2013, and it was one of the nation's first rapid re-housing service providers to be certified by NAEH. > Read more.

Richmond International Raceway's 13th annual Community Christmas tree lighting has been rescheduled from Dec. 6 to Monday, Dec. 12, at 6:30 p.m., due to inclement weather expected on the original date.

Entertainment Dec. 12 will be provided by the Laburnum Elementary School choir and the Henrico High School Mighty Marching Warriors band. Tree decorations crafted by students from Laburnum Elementary School and L. Douglas Wilder Middle School will be on display. Hot chocolate and cookies will be supplied by the Henrico High School football boosters. > Read more.

It’s going to be a cold weekend so if you’re headed out to the James River Parade of Lights or the Richmond Road Runners Club Toy Run 5K in Innsbrook, you’d better bundle up! If you’re looking for some indoor ways to celebrate the holidays, check out Three-Penny Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story for Christmas” or “To Drive the Cold Winter Away: An Irish Celebration of the Returning Light” at the Unitarian Universalist Community Church in Glen Allen. Also this weekend – the Henrico Theatre will show the holiday classic “Home Alone." For all our top picks this weekend, click here! > Read more.

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Glorious Christmas Nights will present its 2016 production of “Finding Christmas” Dec. 1-11 at West End Assembly of God, 401 N. Parham Rd. The musical is set inside Miller & Rhoads on Christmas Eve 1962. Eight-year-old Cody is hunting for a lost treasure and Santa’s grumpy elf, Billie, is searching for her lost keys. When the store closes, locking both of them inside, their paths collide with Gabe, the night watchman. He takes them on a whacky adventure where fantasy characters come to life, Shepherds have lost their sheep, and the hope of all mankind is found in the manger. For a performance schedule and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.gloriouschristmasnights.com.
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